Ten best hip-hop Christmas songs

For as many ill conceived hip-hop Christmas cuts that have been produced over the years, there have been as least as many that were great. While they're not all necessarily fun, feel good songs meant to get you in the spirit of the season, and some deal directly with the ills of the holiday or criticize the commercial aspects of it, they're all thought-provoking and thoughtful and definitely worth hearing. Keep reading for a rundown of the ten best hip-hop Christmas songs.

10. Cross Movement - "Different Christmas" Christian rap is probably the most over-looked sub-genre of hip hop, but it's hard to think of more logical place to find good hip-hop tunes for the season. On Gift Rap, one of the most popular Christian acts, Cross Movement, offers a track in remembrance of those who are no longer with us, something everyone can relate to. The beat has a nice guitar riff, along with relaxed cadenced rhymes about lost love ones. This one is very well composed.

9. Ras Kas - "Jack Frost II" The second version this song is more memorable than the original, simply for the lyrical ability of Ras Kas and the original concept. In the intro, the sample of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" serves as a sarcastic slap to those who celebrate Christmas. Pulling no punches, the California MC offers his thoughts of the origin of holiday saying, "scientifically put, it's the winter solstice/You a slave if you celebrate Christmas." This cut, which takes on Christmas from different perspective, is clearly not for everyone.

8. Ghostface Christmas - "Ghostface Christmas" Ghostface Killah, Wu-Tang's master of rhyme styles, is a legendary story teller, so naturally, he easily flows on the concept of Christmas. You can almost picture Ghost standing around a fire telling this tale to an enthusiastic crowd. The MC is always vivid in his descriptions, and here he colors the rhyme with descriptions of the smells of Christmas, as he raps about Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Santa Claus and his wardrobe for Christmas Eve.